Rivals is a challenging melodrama that digs deep into subject matter. The plot revolves around a widow who’s son Jamie has become overly attached to his mother. Whenever a new man enters her life. He feels threatened and does everything he can to draw his mother attentions back towards him. As the story progresses the mother begins a secretive relationship that eventually evolves into a marriage. Instead of being happy for his mother. The son, who also happens to be into filmmaking follow around his mother and step father around. Filming their every move. Throughout the film there are flashback sequences that put forth the notion that the son’s upbringing is the cause for his demeanor.

The main subplot in this film involves a psychiatrist character, who the mother and son have been seeing since they death of his father. And while the film does have some light hearted moments. Most of which involve scenes with the step father. The tenor of this film is deeply rooted in psychology. The film’s stand out performance comes from Scott Jacoby (Bad Ronald) in the role of Jamie. He is convincing as a tortured young, who is unable to let anyone else besides his mother connect with him on a emotional level. Pacing wise the film does take a while before it finds its groove. And even though there are many peaks and valleys along the way. The film’s bleak ending is a haunting coda to the events that have preceded it.